Universal Resort joins other Orlando parks in raising prices

Published: Friday, January 6, 2006 at 2:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 6, 2006 at 2:58 p.m.

ORLANDO -- Universal Orlando joined its theme park rivals and raised entrance prices Friday, but the resort is encouraging Internet admission-ticket purchases by offering a discount.

Starting Saturday, visitors who purchase tickets at the gates to Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure will pay, pretax, $63 per adult and $52 per child for a one-park, one-day ticket, up from $59.75 for an adult and $48 for a child.

However, visitors who purchase the ticket online will get to pay the old price and can use the ticket to get into the park for five consecutive days.

Late last month, in what is an annual rite, both Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando raised their ticket prices. Disney raised the price of a one-day, one-park ticket for an adult to $63 plus tax, while SeaWorld's pretax price jumped to $61.95.

Universal also planned to raise the prices of some multiday or multi-park passes. A one-day, two-park pass jumped to $73 for an adult and $63 for a child; a "two-day" ticket with a third-day included, was raised to $107.95 for an adult and $97.95 for a child; and the Florida resident discount for a one-day, one-park ticket was raised to $56.70 for an adult and $46.80 for a child.

The price of the resort's popular bonus pass, which allows a guest into both parks for five days, will remain unchanged at $99.95.

<p>ORLANDO -- Universal Orlando joined its theme park rivals and raised entrance prices Friday, but the resort is encouraging Internet admission-ticket purchases by offering a discount.</p><p>Starting Saturday, visitors who purchase tickets at the gates to Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure will pay, pretax, $63 per adult and $52 per child for a one-park, one-day ticket, up from $59.75 for an adult and $48 for a child.</p><p>However, visitors who purchase the ticket online will get to pay the old price and can use the ticket to get into the park for five consecutive days.</p><p>"We want our guests to buy tickets online," said Tom Schroder, a Universal spokesman. "We know they're coming and it helps our guests plan their day."</p><p>Late last month, in what is an annual rite, both Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando raised their ticket prices. Disney raised the price of a one-day, one-park ticket for an adult to $63 plus tax, while SeaWorld's pretax price jumped to $61.95.</p><p>Universal also planned to raise the prices of some multiday or multi-park passes. A one-day, two-park pass jumped to $73 for an adult and $63 for a child; a "two-day" ticket with a third-day included, was raised to $107.95 for an adult and $97.95 for a child; and the Florida resident discount for a one-day, one-park ticket was raised to $56.70 for an adult and $46.80 for a child.</p><p>The price of the resort's popular bonus pass, which allows a guest into both parks for five days, will remain unchanged at $99.95.</p>